Exodus 22:29 kjv

Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.

Exodus 22:29 nkjv

"You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe produce and your juices. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me.

Exodus 22:29 niv

"Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats. "You must give me the firstborn of your sons.

Exodus 22:29 esv

"You shall not delay to offer from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me.

Exodus 22:29 nlt

"You must not hold anything back when you give me offerings from your crops and your wine. "You must give me your firstborn sons.

Exodus 22 verses

Exodus 22 29 Meaning

This verse contains two distinct but related divine commands given to Israel as part of the covenant statutes. Firstly, it demands promptness in bringing the earliest and best produce from the harvest—the initial yields from the fields and the first pressings from the vats of grapes and olives. This emphasizes honoring God with the very first and most excellent of one's increase, not with what remains or is delayed. Secondly, it reiterates the command to dedicate the firstborn male child to God, acknowledging His supreme claim over all life, particularly after the Passover event where He spared Israel's firstborn. Both injunctions underscore God's sovereignty, ownership, and the priority of obedience and worship.

Exodus 22 29 Context

Exodus 22:29 is part of the "Book of the Covenant" (Exodus 20:22-23:33), which contains a collection of civil and religious laws given by God to Israel through Moses immediately after the Ten Commandments. This section provides the detailed application of the broader covenant principles. Chapter 22 specifically addresses various socio-legal issues, including restitution for theft, laws concerning property, social justice for the vulnerable (aliens, widows, orphans), and strictures against magic and bestiality. Within this collection, verses 18-31 primarily deal with religious obligations and moral purity. Verse 29, therefore, fits within this broader call for Israel's complete obedience and dedication to God, covering both their produce and their progeny. It underscores the foundational truth that all they possess, and indeed, their very lives, belong to Yahweh, who redeemed them from slavery.

Exodus 22 29 Word analysis

• You shall not delay (לא תאחר - lo' te'akher):
  • Word: אחר (akhar), meaning "to linger, postpone, put off, delay."
  • Significance: This imperative emphasizes urgency and promptness in fulfilling God's commands. It highlights the principle of giving God the first and best, not waiting until one has more or until it is convenient. Delay suggests hesitation or a lack of trust in God's provision. Spiritually, it signifies a heart that prioritizes God's will above personal desire or convenience.
• to offer from your abundance (ממלאתך - mimle'atkha):
  • Word: מלאה (male'ah), from מלא (male') meaning "to be full, to fill." Here, it refers to the fullness of the produce, the first fruits, or the best part of the yield.
  • Significance: This isn't just about general tithes, but specifically the "first ripe" or initial bounty of the harvest, indicating quality and promptness. It acknowledges that God is the provider of all abundance. In ancient agrarian societies, this was a tangible expression of dependence and gratitude to the true Giver of fertility and harvest, contrasting with pagan deities associated with agricultural prosperity. It demands a giving from a spirit of generosity, recognizing God's initial blessing, rather than giving from leftovers.
• and from your vats (ודמעתך - w'dim'atkha):
  • Word: דמע (dema'), often linked to "tear-juice," meaning liquid that flows from the press. It refers to the initial, highest quality run-off from grapes (wine) and olives (oil).
  • Significance: This term complements "abundance" by specifically addressing liquids derived from agricultural produce. It underscores the offering of the very best and first, not the subsequent, lower-quality pressings. The imagery evokes something fresh and pure. It applies the same principle of priority to both solid and liquid yields, covering the full spectrum of Israel's agricultural output.
• The firstborn of your sons (בכור בניך - bekhor banekha):
  • Word: בכור (bekhor), meaning "firstborn."
  • Significance: In ancient Israelite culture, the firstborn male held significant social and religious standing, representing the strength and beginning of a man's household. God's claim on the firstborn stems from His ownership of all life, emphatically demonstrated through the Passover plague where He spared Israel's firstborn while striking Egypt's. This claim is not for child sacrifice, which God abhorred (Lev 18:21, Deut 18:10), but for consecration. It established God's absolute sovereignty over human life and marked Israel as a holy people belonging exclusively to Him.
• you shall give to Me (תתן לי - titen-li):
  • Word: נתן (natan), meaning "to give, put, set."
  • Significance: This direct command underscores God's possessive right. This "giving" of the firstborn son eventually translated into a system of redemption, either through a monetary payment or by the substitution of the Levites (Num 3:12-13, Num 8:17-19). This clarified that while the firstborn belonged to God, their lives were to be preserved through redemption, preventing any practice akin to child sacrifice. It also signified a lifelong dedication, as the redeemed firstborn was to be consecrated to divine service, emphasizing an offering of life and purpose, not just possessions.
• Words-Group analysis:
  • "You shall not delay to offer...": This phrase highlights God's expectation of prompt and eager obedience in all areas of life. It rejects procrastination or withholding from God, valuing Him as the highest priority. It forms a stark contrast to human nature which often seeks to retain the best for itself.
  • "...from your abundance and from your vats.": This coupling emphasizes that the offering is to be from the very best and initial yield of all agricultural produce. It encompasses both solid goods (grain, fruit) and liquid goods (wine, oil). It is a principle of "first-fruits" that signifies recognizing God as the source of all prosperity before enjoying it. It stands against practices in surrounding cultures where people might try to appease deities after receiving a blessing; here, the offering acknowledges pre-existent divine ownership.
  • "The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me.": This command solidifies God's ultimate claim over all life, especially human life. While other ancient cultures practiced literal child sacrifice to their gods (a practice abhorred by Yahweh), the Israelites' "giving" involved redemption or dedication to priestly service, a crucial distinction that emphasizes holiness and preservation of life under Yahweh's dominion. This also set apart Israel as a unique nation whose covenant was established on a different ethical foundation from its pagan neighbors. This theme foreshadows God's ultimate "firstborn" offering in Jesus Christ.

Exodus 22 29 Bonus section

The principle of giving the "firstfruits" and the "firstborn" carries significant symbolic weight throughout Scripture. The offering of the first indicates that all subsequent produce or progeny is also blessed and holy, as it has been consecrated by its inception (Rom 11:16). This command is not about God needing physical possessions or children, but about humanity acknowledging divine sovereignty and showing gratitude. The concept of "redemption" for the firstborn sons (Ex 13:13, 34:20) provided a humane, distinctively Mosaic way to affirm God's claim without resorting to literal sacrifice, setting God's law apart from pagan practices. This law also laid the groundwork for the special role of the Levites, who were eventually chosen as substitutes for all the firstborn of Israel, dedicated to priestly service (Num 3:12-13), highlighting a system of divine service. Ultimately, Christ, as the "firstborn over all creation" (Col 1:15) and "the firstborn from the dead" (Col 1:18), exemplifies the ultimate consecration and fulfillment of the firstborn principle, through whom believers become "a kind of firstfruits of His creatures" (Jas 1:18).

Exodus 22 29 Commentary

Exodus 22:29 encapsulates core principles of Israel's covenant relationship with God: divine ownership and the priority of God in their lives. The command to promptly offer the first and best of their harvest (abundance and vats) signifies recognizing God as the ultimate provider and Sustainer of life, demanding not merely a portion, but the initial, highest quality output. This pre-emptive giving builds a theology of trust, gratitude, and a rejection of self-sufficiency. It implicitly counters any temptation to rely on false gods of fertility.

The command concerning the firstborn son (give to Me) reaffirms God's absolute claim over human life, especially evident since the Passover deliverance where He spared Israel's firstborn. This "giving" was understood not as literal sacrifice—a practice God strictly forbade—but as a consecration or dedication that evolved into a system of redemption. This ethical framework fundamentally distinguished the worship of Yahweh from the horrific child sacrifices practiced by Canaanite peoples to their deities like Molech, marking Israel as a holy nation committed to the preservation of life. The requirement taught Israel that all blessings—material prosperity and new life—originated from and belonged to God, requiring a response of radical obedience and faith. It points to a deep theological truth that God alone gives and God alone is worthy of our complete devotion, offering Him the preeminent place in every aspect of our existence.